Material dispensing system for combination clothes washing and drying machines



M y 1959 s. N. JENNINGS 2,887,862

. MATERIAL DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR COMBINATION CLOTHES WASHING AND DRYINGMACHINES 7 Filed March 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

\ GRESHAM N. rcuuuuss BY w w H l5 ATTORNEY May 26, 1959 Filed March 24,1958 G. MATERIAL DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR COMBINATION CLOTHES WASHING ANDDRYING MACHINES N. JENNINGS 4 2,887,862

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GREHAM N. JENNINGS BY W/ M HIS ATTORNEY G. N. JENNINGS 2,887,862

MATERIAL DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR COMBINATION CLOTHES WASHING AND DRYINGMACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 26, 1959 Filed March 24, 1958 F' I G. 3

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INVENTOR. GRESHAM N. JENNINGS HIS ATTORNEY MATE IAL DISPENSINIGSYSTEMFon oo nlNA- TION CLOTHES WASHING AND DRYING MA- CHINES L ApplicationMarch 2 4, 1958, Serial No. 123,385 4 Claims. c 68--12) This inventionrelates to a system .for dispensing a larly to such a system where thematerial is carried to the clothes container by the same means which'provides water for dehumidifying the heated air used inthe dryingoperation of such machines. I

2,88 7,862 Patented May 1 959 Most combination washing and'dryingmachines for domestic use provide a closed heating cycle during "theconditioning agent to the clothes container of a combi- I nation washingand drying machine, and more particu- "clog relativelysmall conduits.Because ofithis tendency,

Automatic clothes washing and drying machines enstomarily proceedthrough a sequence of operations in order to wash, rinse and dry theclothes. The sequence ordinarily includes awashing operation, a drainingof the wash water from the clothes container, a rinsing operation inwhich the clothes are rinsed in clean water,

an extraction operation in which the rinse water is removed from theclothes, and a heat drying operation in which the air in contact withthe clothes is heated to vaporize the remaining moisture out of theclothes. De-

pending uponthe type of machine, variations orrthe' basic" sequence maybe provided; for example, many machines include several rinses anddrainings, and some provide an extraction after the washing andpreliminary rinsing operation as well as after the final rinse. Anothervery well known variation which is often provided is a spray" rinse.However, the basic sequence of washing, draining, rinsing, spinning, anddrying "is almost always proa In order to obtain the most desirableresults from these machines, it has been found-advantageous thatatreating agent be added to the rinse water during the final rinsingoperation. Various treating-agents, such as water softeners and fabricsofteners, hereinafter referred'to generally as rinsing or rinse agents,may be addedto the rinse water to produce difierent results. If a watersoftener is added, a better rinsing action is obtained leaving lessdetergent in the clothes. The water softener removes mineralconstituents in the rinse water which would otherwise react with' partof the detergents and be retained as-deposits in-the clothes. As aresult, less graying andyellowing of the clothes occurs. If a fabricsoftener is added to the rinse water, a softer feeling is imparted tothe clothes because the softener leaves a film on the clothes whichcreates this result. The fabri vent electrostatic charges from beingformed on synthetic fabrics. I

In the automatic washing and drying machines to which this inventionrelates, it is most desirable that the automatically into the clothesbasket at the start of the softeners also result in less wrinkling ofthe clothes and r in their being easier to iron. Further, they 'tend topredrying portion of the operation. In otherwords, the air which isheated to vaporize the moisture in the clothes is then dehumidified andused again 'rather than continually using a new supply of air andexhausting the humid air from the machine. To efiect thedehumidification, the air is brought into contact with cool water whichis provided to the machine during'the drying operatio for that purpose.Thus, in addition to the water supply means for filling the containerwith water during the Washing and drying sequences, combination machinesalso include a second water supply for the-dehumidifying effect. Asecond object of this invention is to make use of this second watersupply to cause the dispenser to provide the treating agent to theclothes container at the proper time with virtually no increased "costin the control of the machine.

it is important that the receptacle and conduits which are in contactwith the treating agent be kept clean so that the conduit to the clothescontainer will not become stopped up. Accordingly, it is another objectof this invention to provide an automatic dispensing arrangement whichwill be self-cleaning without requiring any attention whatsoever fromthe operator.

Yet another object of the invention is to cause this cleaning to be'eifected through the use of the water supply means which arealreadynecessarily provided for the air dehumidification as describedabove.

In one aspect of this invention, it relates ma" combination clotheswasher and dryer having the' usual sequencewhich includes awashingoperation and a subsequent drying operation. The machine includesthe standard provisions of a clothes container, means for heating theair in the container, means for dehurhidify- My invention furthercontemplates providing the cooling water from the aforementioned'conduitfmeans, which accordingly is arranged so that its other end communicates with the dehumidifying means and withthe container. A suitablecontrol is provided to cause the main water supply means to provide thecontainer with water as needed for washing and rinsing duringthe washingoperation, and" to cause the heater and'the cooling water supply meansto operate during the operation to efiect the necessary heating anddehumidifying of the air.

The control means also cause operation of the cooling water supply meanssubstantially concurrently with the first water supply means at apredetermined time during the'washing operation, when it isdes'ired-thatthe material in the dispenser be"introducedinto thecontainer.

- will be recognized that the concept of the invention may appropriaterinsing operation. :1.

also be utilized to effect introduction of any material at containeratthe appropriate time. -would be in the time of causing simultaneousoperation any desired point in the cycle. Thus, for instance, it isconceivable that the identical construction could be used to effectintroduction of a suitable detergent in a clothes The only difference ofboth water supply means.

The subject matter which forms this invention is particularly pointedout and distinctly claimed inthe con- -cludingportion of thisspecification. The invention however, both as to organization and methodofoperation, together with further objects and advantages, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved machine of thisinvention, partially in section and with certain surfaces broken away toshow details;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine, with the rear panel removed toillustrate details;

Fig. 3 is another'side elevational view of the machine, partially insection, and broken away along different surfaces from Fig. 1 in orderto show additional details;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, of theimproved material dispenser forming a part of this invention;

Fig. 5 is a view along line 55 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a cam chart illustrating the control sequence ,provided by thecontrol apparatus of the improved combination machine.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I have shown my invention in oneform as applied to a domestic laundry machine comprising a combinationwasher and dryer. The operating elements of the machine are includedwithin an outer cabinet structure including a front panel 1 (Fig. 1) andside panels 2 and 3 (Fig. 2). The panels are supported on a base and toeboard assembly 2, and in turn support a top closure 4 provided with anintegral backsplash portion 5. Access to the interior of the machine isprovided by a door 6 which may be mounted on panel 1 by concealed hingesand opened by suitable means such as a knee operated latch control 7.

The machine is so constructed that when a load of soiled clothes isplaced therein, it proceeds through a sequence of operations, firstwashing the clothes and then drying them. In order to provide completelyautomatic and flexible operation of the machine, operator controls suchas 8 are mounted on the backsplash panel 5 and connected to controlapparatus 9 secured to the backsplash panel. While the particularcontrols provided do not form any part of this invention, they normallyinclude suitable means for turning the machine on'and off, for selectinghot or warm water for the wash, and for causing the various operationsto be performed in proper sequence. A suitable control for machines ofthis :type is, for instance, described and claimed in Patent 2,819,540,Toma et al., issued on January 14, 1958, and assigned to GeneralElectric Company, assignee of'the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 1, '2, and 3 the machine is of the horizontal axistype with a clothes basket or drum 10 mounted for rotation on agenerally horizontal axis within an outer enclosing tub structure 11.The basket 10 comprises a. cylindrical shell 12 which is closed at itsrear by means of a suitable wall 13, and which has a front-wall with asuitable loading opening 13a. The basket is rotatably supported by ashaft 14 mounted in a suitable bearing 14a supported from the rear wall15 of tub 1-1. The tub is provided with an opening 16 in the front wallthereof which is aligned with the access opening 13a to the basket andwith door 6 so that clothes may be placed into or removed from thebasket. The door seals against a suitable gasket 17 to close thisopening during operation of the machine. Basket 10 and tub 11 thus forma container for the clothes during the treatment thereof. ;Duringmachine operation, basket 10 is rotatably driven 4 by an electric motor18 through a drive including a pair of flexible belts 19 and 20. Belt 19connects the motor to the input pulley 21 of a transmission assembly 22,and belt 20 connects output pulley 23 of the transmission assembly to abasket drive pulley 24 mounted on shaft 14 of the clothes tumblingbasket 10. The transmission assembly 22 is of the multiple speed type sothat the ratio thereof can be changed to cause the basket to be drivenat two different speeds, providing one basket speed for clothes tumblingfor washing and for heat drying and another basket speed for centrifugalliquid extraction. The ratio of the transmission assembly is changed byany suitable means such as, for instance, a suitably arranged solenoidactuated plunger 24a. Basket 10 is continuously rotated by means of thisdrive during the operation of the machine.

To heat the air contacting the clothes during the drying portion of thecycle there are provided a pair of heaters 25 and 26, mounted within theupper portion of the tub 11 so that when energized they heat the basket10. The heating elements are preferably of the sheathed type in whichthe resistance wire is maintained in spaced relation with an outersheath by a highly compressed granulated heat-conductingelectrically-insulating compound such as magnesium oxide. If so desired,one or both heaters may be energized during the washing cycle tomaintain the water at a desirably warm temperature. The water heatingeffect is obtained as a result of the heaters first heating the basketand then, as the basket dips into the wash water at the bottom of thetub, heating the water by contact with the basket. In other words, therotating basket serves as an efiective heat transfer means betweenelements and the water or other washing liquids. When the heaters areenergized during the drying cycle, the heat transferred to the basketand the air is then passed on to the clothes to cause vapor migrationout of the clothes. Also, the outer cylindrical shell of the basket isperforated, and some of the heat from the heating elements passesdirectly to the clothes by radiation. It will be understood that inmachines which have air circulating devices therein, the heater may bephysically more distant from the basket; the important point isthat'heat is provided to the clothes to vaporize the moisture therein.

The means whereby water is admitted to and discharged from the tub 11during operation of the machine is particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.The water supply means includes connections 27 and 28 (Fig. 2) throughwhich hot and cold water is supplied to the machine. For the washoperation, a valve controlled by a solenoid 29 admits hot water to themachine and a valve controlled by an opposed solenoid 30 admits coldwater to the machine. The hot and cold water valves under the control ofsolenoids 29 and 30 discharge from a common outlet conduit 31 across asuitable air gap (provided to prevent syphoning of water from themachine back to the water supply line) into a funnel 32. As best seen inFig. 1, funnel 32 discharges into a line 33 which leads to a sump 34provided at the bottom of the tub 11. A conduit 34a connects the sump toa drain pump 3412 which discharges through a line 340 to a suitabledrain (not shown) at the appropriate times to remove water from tub 11.In the illustrated machine, a pressure-actuated sensing device or waterlevel control 35 controls both solenoids 29 and 30to maintain the properwater level in the machine during the washing operation. This sensingdevice is connected to the interior of tub 11 by a suitable line 36,and'achieves its control over the solenoids in a manner well'known inthe art and which is not further'described or illustrated herein.

The combination machine uses cold water during the drying cycle forcondensing the moisture out of the air after it has been vaporized fromthe wet clothes. The condenser water is admitted to the machine througha valve controlled by asolenoid 37 which is energized during the dryingoperation and during an appropriate part of the washing operationas willbe explained herebelow. When solenoid 37 is energized, the valve passeswater at a slow rate appropriate for condensing moisture extracted fromthe clothes. As shown, the condenser water valve discharges into a line38.

In accordance with my invention, line 38 discharges at 39 into a rinseagent dispenser receptacle 40 (Figs. 4 and 5) providedabove the maximumliquid level reached within tub 11, preferably adjacent the top frontportion of the machine within the cabinet. A suitable opening 41 isprovided in the front panel 1 of the machine cabinet and a tray 42 isslidably mounted in opening 41 and is provided with an appropriatehandle 43 by means of which the tray may be slid out to the positionshown in phantom in Fig. 4. Appropriate stop means 44 are preferablyprovided to limit the outward movement of the tray. The tray has abottom section 45 which slopes downwardly from the outer edge thereofadjacent the cabinet wall 1 to the inner edge thereof where there isprovided an opening 46. In any position of the tray, opening 46 isdirectly over the receptacle 40 so that when a suitable treatingmaterial such as a liquid rinse agent is introduced into tray 42 itflows along the sloped bottom 45 and through opening 46 into thereceptacle 40.

A syphon 47 has its short leg 48 extending into receptacle 40 and itslonger leg 49 extending through wall 50 of receptacle 40 down into theopening 51 of a conduit 52. Conduit 52 extends at its other end 53 intoa trap 54 which is designed to seal the tub and basket from atmospherewhen water is flowing in conduit 52, and to vent to atmosphere through avent tube 55 at other times. The vent trap 54 forms no part of thepresent invention, being fully described and claimed in Patent2,800,008, Raczynski, issued on July 23, 1957, and assigned to GeneralElectric Company, assignee of the present invention. Liquid from conduit52 then passes through the vent trap 54 and enters tub 11 through anopening 56 (Fig. 2) provided therein for that purpose. The water soentering the tub is spread over the side of the tub by an inverted V-shaped bead 57 (Fig. 1) formed on the tub wall directly below the trap.The condenser water being so spread out cools a substantial portion ofthe area of the tub wall so as to provide a large cool surface forcondensing from the air the moisture which has been extracted from theclothes.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 6, the operation of the improvedcombination washing and drying machine of the invention will bedescribed. It is to be understood that Fig. 6 is in effect a developmentof the peripheries of the operating cams (not otherwise shown) of thecontrol mechanism 9 when provided in combination with suitable controlcircuit means such as described and claimed in the aforementioned Tomaet a1. patent. The heavy lines show the cam rises, when the devicescontrolled by the cams are caused to operate.

Let it be assumed for purposes of explanation that the control knob 8 isset to provide a standard washing and drying operation, wherein it isintended that hot water be provided for the wash, and that the water beheated by the small heater during the washing operation. To initiate theaction, the control is manually advanced to a position just beyond theon line in Fig. 6. It is understood, of course, that previous to thistime tray 42 has been pulled out, a suitable amount of rinse agentdeposited therein and the tray returned to its closed'position. The sizeof the receptacle is such that the rinse agent alone is insufiicient toreach the top of syphon 47 to initiate the syphoning action.

As the selected cycle is started it can be seen that the hot watersupply, the timer (not otherwise shown) and the small heater areenergized. This energizes the solenoid 29 to open its associated valveand permit hot water to flow into the tub 11 through conduit 33 and sump34 to fill the tub to an appropriate level. At the same time, the smallheater 26 is in operation to maintain the wash water at a suitably highwashing temperature. When an appropriate amount of Water has beenprovided, pressuresensitive switch causes the flow to stop and thewashing action is then provided by the continued tumbling of basket 10which, as has been stated, is normally rotated during the entireoperation from start to finish. At the end of a predetermined amount ofwashing time, as determined by the timer, the pump is actuated to drainthe Water out of the tub 11. Clean water (preferably cold) is thenintroduced to provide a first rinsing action which continues for apredetermined amount of time, and then the pump is reactivated to drainoil the rinse water. It will be observed that the small heater may becontinually energized during this period, if so desired, and that thetimer is running in order to control the sequence of operations. It willfurther be observed that up to this point no water has been introducedthrough the valve controlled by solenoid 37 so that the rinse agent inreceptacle 40 still remains there.

At the start of the last rinse, in addition to the water used to fillthe container (in this instance, both hot and cold water are used toprovide a warm rinse), the solenoid 37 is energized to cause thecondenser water to be introduced into conduit 38. Thus, at the same timethat the tub 11 is being filled through conduit 33, receptacle 40 isbeing filled through conduit 38. It will readily be understood that theonly control modification required from that which is normally providedto control the action of the condenser solenoid 37 is a modification inthe out-line of the controlling cam.

Receptacle 40 fills up until the liquid level rises to the top of syphon47, at which point there is a liquid mixture of water and rinse agent inthe receptacle. As soon as the level reaches the top of the syphon,syphoning action will be started with the liquid flowing up through leg48 of the syphon and down through leg 49 into conduit 52. If the liquidenters receptacle 40 faster than syphon 47 can remove it, it flows overedge 58 and then into conduit 52. This action continues until the liquidlevel in receptacle 40 falls so low as to permit air to enter leg 48 ofthe syphon. As can be seen, leg 48 extends almost to the bottom of thereceptacle 40 so that it is almost empty at the time this occurs.However, this does not come about immediately since liquid is stillbeing introduced from conduit 38; thus, there is a substantiallycontinuous flow down through conduit 52 and into the tub 11 from thetime it starts. It will, of course, be recognized that syphon 47,although its use is preferred is only one of various mechanisms whichcan be used to conduct liquid from receptacle 40 to conduit 52. Thus,for instance, the function could also be performed by letting the liquidflow over edge 58 into conduit 52 and providing valve means for dumpingthe remaining liquid from the receptacle at the end of a cycle.

The liquid is spread out over the wall of the tub by bead 47 aspreviously explained. However this is substantially immaterial at thispoint, the important point being that the mixture of rinse agent andwater has been introduced into the tub so that it can flow down to jointhe remainder of the rinse water. Thus the clothes are subjected to theaction of the rinse agent after it has been suitably mixed with apreliminary quantity of water in receptacle 40 and then introduced intothe tub.

As usual, the introduction of water from the main water supply isterminated when the liquid in the tub is at the appropriate 'level. Therelatively small flow from the condenser water inlet may also be stoppedat this time or it may be continued throughout the rinse cycle.Continuing the condenser water flow adds relatively little water to thetub, but does serve the desired purpose of continually running waterinto receptacle 40 to provide a preliminary cleaning-out effect; thus,when the final rinse is terminated, the small quantity of liquid whichremains at the bottom of the receptacle 40 is mostly water and has onlya very small quantity of rinse agent therein.

At the end of the final rinse the pump'is again operated to drain thewater out'of the machine, and then the spin solenoid is energized tocause a centrifugal liquid extraction operation by rapid rotation of'thebasket. Operation of the pump is normally continued through to the endof the cycle to remove the water collected in the sump from thecentrifugal extraction and, in the subsequent drying operation, toremove the mixture of condenser water and condensed vaporv At the end ofthe spin, an appropriate drying cycle is commenced, with the condenser,both heaters, and the pump being in operation. As can be seen from thetimer cam in Fig. 6, energization of the timer during drying may beintermittent to effect a substantially automatic drying operationcontrolled primarily by the dryness of the clothes rather than by timealone. However, this does not form any part of the present invention andthus is not explained further; it is explained in greater detail in theaforementioned patent issued to Toma et al. However one aspect of thedrying cycle important to the present invention is that for at least asubstantial part thereof the condenser water is introduced in order toeffect the necessary action of condensing the vaporized moisture out ofthe air. This condenser fiow passes of course through receptacle 40,syphon 48, and conduit 52 so that a very thorough cleaning of all threeis provided. This prevents any tendency of the rinse agent to clog upthe openings in the system.

The drying operation is continued for a suitable period and then isterminated by the timer, either alone, or, as described in the Toma etal patent, in cooperation with thermostatic apparatus. The completecycle is then finished, and the washed dry clothes are ready toheremoved from the machine.

It will be observed that the rinse agent is introduced at theappropriate time in a completely automatic manner, without any attentionfrom the operator being required; this is done with only the verysmallest of modifications to the control system, which down to everylast element would have been required even if no rinse agent dispenserhad been provided. It will further be observed that after the rinseagent is introduced, the ordinary action of the condenser during thedrying operation serves to provide a complete cleaning of all interiorparts which have been contacted by the rinse agent. The only part whichis not so cleaned is the tray 42 which, by reaching in and elevatingstop 44 manually, may very easily be removed and cleaned occasionally bythe operator as necessary.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what atpresent is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the invention,and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a combination clothes washer and dryer having a sequence includinga washing operation and a subsequent drying operation: a clothescontainer; first water supply means communicating with said container; amaterial dispenser comprising a receptacle positioned above the maximumliquid level reached in said container, second water supply meanscommunicating with said receptacle, a syphon extending through a wall ofsaid receptacle and having a first shorter leg positioned within saidreceptacle and a second longer leg extending outside said receptacle,and conduit means communicating at one end thereof with said longer legof said syphon to receive liquid therefrom when the liquid level in saidreceptacle extends to the top of said'syphon; means for heating theclothes in said container; means for dehumidifying by contact with coolwater the air which has absorbed moisture from the clothes, said conduitmeans communicating at its other end with said dehumidifying means andwith said container; and control means for both said water supply meansand said heating means, said control means causing said first watersupply means to operate dnring the washing operation to provide saidcontainer with water for washing and rinsing, said control means causingsaid heating means and said second water supply means to operate duringthe drying operation to heat the clothes in said container and to supplywater to dehumidify the air respectively, said control means alsocausing operation of said second water supply means substantiallyconcurrently with said first water supply means at a predetermined timeduring said washing op.- eration to fill said receptacle to saidpredetermined level therein and thereby flow a mixture of material andwater from said dispenser through said syphon and said conduit meansinto said container.

2. A combination clothes washer and dryer having a squence including awashing operation and a subsequent drying operation and comprising acabinet; a clothes container positioned within said cabinet; first watersupply means within said cabinet communicating with said container; amaterial dispenser comprising a receptacle positioned within saidcabinet adjacent a wall thereof and above the maximum liquid levelreached in said container, said cabinet having an opening thereinadjacent said receptacle, means extending from said opening to saidreceptacle to guide material introduced into said opening to saidreceptacle, second water supply means within said cabinet communicatingwith said receptacle, and conduit means communicating at one end thereofwith said receptacle to receive liquid therefrom when a predeterminedliquid level is reached therein; means in said cabinet for heating theclothes in said container; means in said cabinet for dehumidifying bycontact with cool water the air which has absorbed moisture from theclothes, said conduit means communicating at its other end with saiddehumidifying means and with said container; and control means for bothsaid water supply means and said heating means, said control meanscausing said first water supply means to operate during the washingoperation to provide said container with water for washing and rinsing,said control means causing said heating means and said second watersupply means to operate during the drying operation to heat the clothesin said container and to supply water to dehumidify the airrespectively, said control means also causing operation of said secondwater supply means substantially concurrently with said first watersupply means at a predeterminedtime during said washing operation tofill said receptacle to said predetermined level therein and therebyflow a mixture of material and water from said dispenser into saidcontainer.

3. In a combination clothes washer and dryer having a sequence includinga washing operation and a subsequent drying operation: a clothescontainer adapted to receive liquid for treatment of clothes therein,said container comprising a rotatable cylindrical basket having aperforated outer wall and an enclosing stationary liquid retaining tub,means forming a sump at the bottom of said tub below said basket, meansfor draining water from said tub, said tub having a substantial portionof a wall thereof formed to spread out a flow of water into a thin sheetfor dehumidifying warm moist air within said container; first watersupply means communicating with said sump; a material dispensercomprising a receptacle positioned above the maximum liquid levelreached in said container, second water supply means communicating withsaid receptacle, and conduit means communicating at one end thereof withsaid receptacle to receive liquid therefrom when a predetermined liquidlevel is reached therein; means for heating the clothes in saidcontainer; means defining an opening in said tub provided above saidwall portion formed to spread water out into a sheet, said conduit meanscommunicating at its other end with said opening in said tub; andcontrol means for both said water supply means and said heating means,said control'means causing said first water supply means toroperateduring the washing operation to provide said container with water forwashing and rinsing, said control means causing said heating means andsaid second water supply means to operate during the drying operationtoheat the clothes in said container and to supply water to dehumidify theair respectively, said control means causing operation of said secondwater supply means substantially concurrently with said first watersupply means at a predetermined time during said washing operation 'tofill said receptacle to said predeterminedleveli'threin and thereby flowa mixture of material and water from said dispenser into said container,said control means causing said draining means to empty said containerof liquid subsequent to washing and rinsing and to remove condensedvapor and water introduced through said opening of said container duringsaid drying operation.

4. In a combination clothes washer and dryer having a sequence includinga washing operation and a subsequent drying operation, said washingoperation including aperiod of washing and at least one subsquent periodof rinsing:' aclothes container; first solenoid controlled \vater supplymeans communicating with said container;

a material dispenser comprising a receptacle positioned above themaximum liquid level reached in said container,

second solenoid controlled water supply means communicating with saidreceptacle, and conduit means communicating at one end thereof with saidreceptacle to receive liquid therefrom when a predetermined liquid levelis reached therein; means for heating the clothes in said container;means for dehumidifying by contact with cool water the air which hasabsorbed moisture from the clothes, said conduit means communicating atits other end with said dehumidifying means and with said container; andcontrol means for energizing both said solenoid-controlled water supplymeans and said heater, said control means energizing said first watersupply means to introduce water to said container during the washingperiod and the rinse periods thereby to provide said container withwater for said operations, said control means energizing said heatingmeans and said second water supply means during the drying operation toheat the clothes insaid container and to supply water to dehumidify theair respectively, said control means also causing energization of saidsecond water supply means during the last rinse of said washingoperation to fill said receptacle to said predetermined level thereinand thereby flow a mixture of material and water from said dispenserinto said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

